How did Northeners feel about slavery during the Civil War?

Answer 1

Before the war, most Northerners did not feel strongly about slavery. They generally agreed with Lincoln that it was acceptable in its traditional heartlands, but should not be allowed to extend into the new Westerm states.

There had always been a powerful Abolitionist lobby in New England, but they were not very numerous. The publication of 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' did attract many new converts to the cause of Abolitionism, but they were nowhere near a majority. When the war started, the Northern mission was to reunite the states, not to end slavery.

As the war progressed - or failed to - Lincoln began to allow his troops to 'confiscate' (his word) any slaves they came across in their Southern campaigns - plainly classifying those slaves as property, not citizens.

Foreign policy then took a hand. Lincoln was seriously worried at the prospect of Britain and France granting recognition to the Confederacy. So he issued the Emancipation Proclamation, turning the war into an official crusade against slavery, so that free nations abroad could no longer aid the South without looking pro-slavery themselves.

Tactically, this had the desired effect, but it did not do much to change Northern sentiment about slavery, and although the Union armies gradually came to accept freed slaves into their ranks, the average Northerner never became a heartfelt Abolitionist.

Answer 2

Good question.

One thing is certain: they did not leap into uniform in outrage at the terrible institution of slavery. (Some revisionists have tried to present the war in this way.)

Although there was an increasingly powerful Abolitionist lobby, most Union troops were not Abolitionists. And even after issuing the Emancipation Proclamation, Lincoln allowed four (later five) states to continue practising slavery until after the war.

Most Northerners were not really interested in slavery at all. They just wanted the cotton revenues back, and a re-united states.

Answer 3

Some people liked slavery and most people did not think it was fair. It partly depended on race, since obviously the slaves and those most likely to be enslaved didn't like it at all. Those benefiting from slavery enjoyed the benefits of slavery. Then most of the rest were probably indifferent about the subject since it didn't pertain to them and they had no vested interest either way.

Answer 4

An extended cotton empire could have grown rich enough to break away and rob the USA of the cotton revenues.